15 Dead After Gun Battle With Bombing Suspects in Sri Lanka

Three die in gunfire, while three others blow themselves up in Ampara.

- Meera Srinivasan

The bodies of 15 people, including six children, were found at a building in Sri Lanka’s eastern Ampara district after an “explosion” early on Saturday, according to a military spokesman.

The explosion, Brigadier Sumith Atapattu said, followed an overnight gun battle between security forces and suspects linked to the Easter Day bombings at the building. “We believe they set off the explosives following the gunfight,” he told The Hindu.

Three suspected jihadists died in the gunfire, while three others are believed to have blown themselves up, also killing six children and three women in the process, according to the police.

One civilian was killed in the firing, and five others who were injured were taken to hospital, Brigadier Atapattu said, confirming that no one from the security forces was killed.

Explosives, detonators, gelignite sticks, acid bottles, detonating cords, ISIS flags, suicide kits and military uniforms were seized from the safe house.

The development comes in the wake of Sri Lanka’s heightened search for suspects linked to the Easter Day serial blasts that claimed over 250 lives last Sunday.